Has Anyone Made Fondant Animals?

[RealLifeMama]

I don't know if this should go here or hobbies. I will try this first.
Has anyone made jungle animals with fondant before?
This is my first time trying to make figures like this before, but I need to make a few jungle animals.
I was wondering if Marshmallow fondant would be OK to use of if it would be better buy premade since no one will eat them, and if anyone had any tips.

[crunchymum]

i never have, but the mmf i made was pretty moldable. :shrug3

[bostonsmama]

How big will they be? You may need to mix it with some gumpaste...I've used toothpicks before, too....I'd recommend making the pieces unassembled and letting them dry out a bit before assembling. I'm not a pro, and I've not done a lot of work with it, but from what I've done with figures (not animals in particular) thats what I'd recommend :tu I use vodka leftover from making vanilla to 'glue' them together :)

[JellyBean]

Yea you may need gumpaste because fondant won't hold as well. I haven't made animals but I just did two cakes this week with fondant toppings...one was a football and the other a mickey hat. I use rice krispie treats as the base and cover them in fondant. They are more basic than a jungle animal would be I'd think! Here's pics of the two I did. :D

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v490/hink4687/IMG_0138.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v490/hink4687/photo6.jpg

---------- Post added at 11:26 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:24 PM ----------

How big will they be? You may need to mix it with some gumpaste...I've used toothpicks before, too....I'd recommend making the pieces unassembled and letting them dry out a bit before assembling. I'm not a pro, and I've not done a lot of work with it, but from what I've done with figures (not animals in particular) thats what I'd recommend :tu I use vodka leftover from making vanilla to 'glue' them together :)

:think Interesting! How does vodka glue it? I always just used icing for glue. But on the football I didn't use anything...just sorta pressed the seems into it...I can see how vodka if that works would have been helpful!

[Six Little Feet]

I use corn syrup for glue.

[RealLifeMama]

As far as size, they will be maybe 4 inches high at the most? I also need to make trees. They are supposed to be sitting down. (the animals, not the trees.)
I had no idea I'd have to use gumpaste, but I can see how that would be helpful....I guess that is already made in a bag, right? I have never used that before. I just mix it in with the fondant? Is it edible?

I am all nervous now. The last thing I want is for their heads to fall off or something! Toothpicks and vodka...got it! :ty4
:nails
I have a week to get it done.

Some really good friends of ours are moving to Africa, and I am making them a cake for their farewell party. We camp with them all the time, so I thought I'd do a camping scene, but with an African twist, and the animals are going to be sitting around a campfire roasting marshmallows.
Maybe I should do something else, LOL. Now that I type it out, not only does that sound like it is rather above my skill level :giggle, it sounds kind of silly. Whimsical, maybe? :shifty

[JessicaTX]

I've made marshmallow fondant to use as playdough before, I think it's very moldable, but I don't know how well figurines made out of it would last. They got eaten here.

[JellyBean]

As far as size, they will be maybe 4 inches high at the most? I also need to make trees. They are supposed to be sitting down. (the animals, not the trees.)
I had no idea I'd have to use gumpaste, but I can see how that would be helpful....I guess that is already made in a bag, right? I have never used that before. I just mix it in with the fondant? Is it edible?

I am all nervous now. The last thing I want is for their heads to fall off or something! Toothpicks and vodka...got it! :ty4
:nails
I have a week to get it done.

Some really good friends of ours are moving to Africa, and I am making them a cake for their farewell party. We camp with them all the time, so I thought I'd do a camping scene, but with an African twist, and the animals are going to be sitting around a campfire roasting marshmallows.
Maybe I should do something else, LOL. Now that I type it out, not only does that sound like it is rather above my skill level :giggle, it sounds kind of silly. Whimsical, maybe? :shifty

Have you tried googling youtube videos of others making them? I've found lots of good cake videos on youtube. I "think" there's a mix for gumpaste you buy. I've never actually worked with it but I've seen the powder and some gel stuff at michaels. I think it sounds like a great idea though! How long do you have? I'd start trying to make them and have a back up plan if it turns out to be harder than you thought. :D

---------- Post added at 12:49 AM ---------- Previous post was at 12:41 AM ----------

Looks like there are some step by step tutorials here on how to make a monkey and another just on animals in general. :)
http://www.cakescanada.com/HowTo/

[Waterlogged]

You could also use rice crispy treats as the filler with the MMF overtop for the details. I did a Pooh head that way. You can do trees with pretzels and marshmallows - they look pretty cute, actually.http://www.greenwayfamily.com/serendipity/picasaAlbums/WinnieThePoohCake/images/dsc04131.jpg

http://www.greenwayfamily.com/serendipity/picasaAlbums/WinnieThePoohCake/images/dsc04046.jpg

http://www.greenwayfamily.com/serendipity/picasaAlbums/JoAnnsBirthdayCake/images/dsc03867.jpg

[CapeTownMommy]

Following this thread with interest. :popcorn Your planned cake sounds WONDERFUL!

[Waterlogged]

After you mold it, put it in the freezer to harden.

Vodka is also great for using as a base for paint - mix the gel color with vodka, and then you can handpaint the fondant.

I think the MM fondant is more pliable than the premade stuff.

You can do a dome tent out of an upside down pyrex bowl.

[JellyBean]

After you mold it, put it in the freezer to harden.

Vodka is also great for using as a base for paint - mix the gel color with vodka, and then you can handpaint the fondant.

I think the MM fondant is more pliable than the premade stuff.

You can do a dome tent out of an upside down pyrex bowl.

I've had problems when I tried to freeze fondant to speed up the hardening process. It made the fondant wet from condensation and it appeared "hard" from being frozen and when it warmed up it was softer than it started! :doh

[bostonsmama]

I've never frozen it, I think I'd be too scared, lol! rice krispy treats work well under the larger things, but for a 4" animal figure, I'd probably not do that...

the vodka moistens the fondant so when you put two pieces together, they stick. It dries so fast b/c of the alcohol, so it's much faster (and less messy) than water/etc. I've used icing before as well, but I think the vodka works best. I paint it on the areas I'm wanting to 'glue' with a paintbrush.

Niki -- LOVE the mickey hat cake!!!

---------- Post added at 09:22 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:21 AM ----------


Vodka is also great for using as a base for paint - mix the gel color with vodka, and then you can handpaint the fondant.
.

interesting! I'll have to try that! :tu

[Waterlogged]

I put all my cakes in the freezer. So do the cake places on TV.......??? usually there's a fair amount of time before the cake is eaten, and usually involves transport in the car....

maybe MMF is different though.

here's a handpainted flower, using vodka...
http://www.greenwayfamily.com/serendipity/picasaAlbums/katherine/firstBirthdayCake/IMG_4435.JPG

[Leen]

I made a fondant elephant for the top of DD's first birthday cake. I considered using the powder stuff that turns it into gum paste (can't remember the name) but just kept it simple. I made the elephant a day or two in advance and he was fine. :tu He lasted a few more months, as well, and I think he might even still be around somewhere, although he started to settle and kind of sink after a few months.

I used pre-made fondant and kneaded the gel color into each section individually. I didn't use any glue other than water to help the sections stick.

This was my first cake, so please excuse the rough edges and such. :bag

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g7/katiebeth513/IMG_3268.jpg

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g7/katiebeth513/IMG_3277.jpg

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g7/katiebeth513/IMG_3281.jpg

[Six Little Feet]

Great cake!!!


You could also use chocolate modeling clay to make animals.

[RealLifeMama]

Sheryl, what is chocolate modeling clay? I have never seen that before. We don't have any cake decorating stores here, only AC Moore and Michaels. I went to two stores yesterday and they were both out of gumpaste, tylose, and gum-tex. :jawdrop
I did get some premade Wilton brown/black fondant.
I might just try to make them from just the MMF fondant so I can get done. I know when I make loop bows and things like that, the loops hold their shape OK. It is kind of humid, but if I can't find the stuff, I can't find it and I have to work on them today.

I will definitely try the vodka! I sometimes get shiny borders from using water, so I bet the vodka would help with that.

Leen, your elephant is cute! :tu Thank you for sharing that.

[Six Little Feet]

http://ezinearticles.com/?Recipe----Chocolate-Modeling-Clay&id=12884

http://cakecentral.com/recipes/1608/chocolate-clay-modeling-chocolate

[RealLifeMama]

I still have not done them yet. :blush I did color my fondant, though.

I have another question for you all, since I did share my design idea and all, and since someone gave me advice about the tent...
What color would you make the tent?
I am putting a red medical cross in a white circle on it.
The icing on the cake will be tan/beige color. The trees are green and brown (duh!) More specifically, they are a mix of kelly green/leaf green and dark brown.
What would be a good tent color?

[CapeTownMommy]

Definitely olive green, especially if it is supposed to be a Red Cross tent.

[RealLifeMama]

Thanks, I did it olive green. It clashes horribly with my palm trees, but, oh well. :shrug
I wish I could redo my trees, but they take too long to dry.

I did three animals so far. My elephant was my first, and you can tell it was my first! My zebra is OK, he looks like Snoopy with a black mane and no ears. :blush But, I think my giraffe looks cute,
I have to do a lion still, and if I have time, I will do a monkey.

[Waterlogged]

Pictures???? :)

[RealLifeMama]

Thanks for all the tips! I really appreciate it.

Pictures???? :)
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y52/AandNsMom/IMG_5548-1.jpg
My zebra looks like what snoopy would look like if he dressed up like a zebra!
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y52/AandNsMom/IMG_5549.jpg

[JellyBean]

You did FANtastic! Those are so cute! :rockon

[RealLifeMama]

You did FANtastic! Those are so cute! :rockon

Thanks.
DH made the fire because I was running out of time. Didn't he do a great job?
:heart

[Waterlogged]

Those are really cute!!!!!

[bostonsmama]

those are adorable!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Can we see the whole cake, with the tent and all? You did fantastic! I love all of them!!!!! :heart :heart :heart

[RealLifeMama]

Well, I can't say no to Mr. T, now, can I?

I posted a pic in the SuHBC because we were supposed to do something creative, but I will post it here, too.


http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y52/AandNsMom/IMG_5540.jpg

The board says "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creatures. Mark 16:15" That is the NKJ version. I liked how it said "creatures" with the animals there and all. -giggle They are going there for medical missions.

The tent, which I expected to be the easiest thing to do, was the most troublesome! Go figure.

I iced the cake smooth and then went over it with a rag to look rough and uneven.

[crunchymum]

:rockon

[Six Little Feet]

awesome cake!

[Leen]

It looks AWESOME!!! I love it! :heart You did a great job. The animals are so cute!

[bostonsmama]

ooh, I love it! That is the sweetest cake I've ever seen! <3 <3 <3 I love how it all comes together with the verse! Adorable! Did you use gumpaste mixed with the fondant, or just fondant? The trees look fab as well! :clap:clap:clap

(and no, you cannot tell Mr. T no! :no)

[RealLifeMama]

ooh, I love it! That is the sweetest cake I've ever seen! <3 <3 <3 I love how it all comes together with the verse! Adorable! Did you use gumpaste mixed with the fondant, or just fondant? The trees look fab as well! :clap:clap:clap

(and no, you cannot tell Mr. T no! :no)

Thank you!
I actually wound up just using wilton brand fondant.
There was a woman in the cake supply isle at Michaels that had done animals before and she said that is what she used.
The interesting thing is that Wilton must have gotten tired of everyone saying how horrible their fondant tasted because they changed it and now it tastes OK. Not delicious, but not really bad.
What was really funny is that kids were walking around the party munching on palm trees.

[bostonsmama]

Every kid I know who has eaten fondant, loved it! Isn't that funny? My kids will eat homemade, wilton, duff, etc. Any/all. I had one little girl say that the duff brand tasted like a candy corn, and I think she was right. It helped that she was eating an orange colored one, shaped like a construction cone -- so it kind of *looked* like a candy corn too. lol

[klpmommy]

it looks great!

[CapeTownMommy]

Wow. That's amazing!

[momyshaver]

What a lovely cake :rockon